Photo by Meagan White // Staff Photographer
Middle Tennessee (13-14, 2-6 C-USA) was looking to carry the momentum from their Friday victory over Rice (16-10, 6-2 C-USA), but a late run from Charlie Warren pushed Rice over the hump in a 1-0 win over the Blue Raiders at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
It was a pitcher’s duel between Rice’s Blake Fox and Tyler Troutt for the Blue Raiders.
Even with Troutt’s excellent performance on the mound for MTSU, allowing only two hits for the entire game, the Blue Raider bats couldn’t support him.
The Blue Raiders had base runners in almost every inning, recording a hit in all but three innings, but couldn’t push across any runs.
MTSU had the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, but Rice was able to escape the inning after turning a double play. That theme was common throughout the game, as the Blue Raiders stranded two runners in both the first and fourth innings.
MTSU’s Austin Dennis led the Blue Raiders with two hits, while Brad Jarreau and Aaron Aucker each went 1-for-3.
Rice’s Ryan Chandler hit a sacrifice fly to score Warren for the games only run, evening the series at 1-1 headed into Sunday’s tiebreaker.
The Blue Raiders will wrap up their three-game series against Rice Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
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To contact Sports Editor Connor Grott, email sports@mtsusidelines.com or follow him on Twitter at @Connor_Grott.
